by current (utterly ambiguous and arbitrary) definition, was Malcolm X

[leftofthedial]

a terrorist?

How about MLK?

[NYCGirl]

1. The FBI had people spying on both of them. NT

[leftofthedial]

3. So if we'd had the Patriot Act in the 60's, would MLK have

been in Gitmo instead of marching from Selma to Montgomery?

[NYCGirl]

4. Probably not, because he didn't advocate violence. NT

[K-W]

8. Niether did alot of people in Gitmo EOM

[NYCGirl]

10. Gitmo under this administration is a far different thing. NT

[maxsolomon]

2. MLK did not advocate violent opposition to the State

but if Malcolm, pre-Mecca, were alive today, then yes, he would be called a Terrorist.

[leftofthedial]

5. how certain are we that all the prisoners at Gitmo

advocated violence?

Is there some provision in the PAtriot Act that defines "terrorist" as one who advocates violence? I don't think so. I think it's not defined at all and I think that rhetorically at least, the term "terrorist" has been applied to many many people who pose a threat to the status quo regime in the US without advocating violence.

[sutz12]

9. I believe that, according to the Patriot Act...

a terrorist is pretty much whomever the guv'mint says is a terrorist.

Can't be bothered with all of that 4th/5th amendment crap, now can we. We're at war. :sarcasm:

[man4allcats]

6. Some might argue that he was,

but personally I've always felt he didn't get enough credit. He was surely radical, but so is racism. Is it ethical to fight fire with fire when the fire being fought is racism? I would have to say no, but as General Sherman said before he burned Atlanta to the ground, "War is hell." Malcolm X's methods may at times have been open to question, but I do not find it difficult to empathize with his feelings.

[union_maid]

7. No

Certainly not MLK. He was an advocate of non-violent civil disobedience. Maybe he'd even know how to get it done in today's climate. Who knows? We haven't seen his like in a long time. Malcom X? No, I don't recall anything about him advocating murder of innocent citizens. Now the white supremicists of the day - the advocates of Jim Crow - they had quite a few terrorists in their number.

[K-W]

11. Malcom X was a radical Muslim who condemned the US government.

Obviously he didnt advocate terrorism, but it doesnt seem that most people the government has targetted have actually advocated terrorism. If he were around today the government would be connecting him to Al-Queda and accusing him of being a terrorist sympathizer at the very least.